Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. – The University of San Francisco Diamond Dons fell short for the second day in a row at Gonzaga, losing 9-5 to the Bulldogs at Washington Trust Field Saturday.
The Zags jumped out to an early lead when Clayton Eslick hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first off Dons starter
Alex Balog. Balog entered the game with a 1.93 ERA, but was unable to continue his streak of seven-inning starts after being pulled in the sixth inning. The junior surrendered a season-high nine runs, six of them earned.
After the Dons drew within one in the top of the fourth, 2-1, Gonzaga scored four in the fifth and three more in the sixth to put the game away. USF rallied for three runs in the seventh when
Bob Mott,
Justin Maffei and
Jason Mahood drove in runs to bring the Dons within four at 9-5.
USF rapped out nine hits on the day, highlighted by senior
Jason Mahood's 3-for-5 performance at the plate, including a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Sophomore
Bradley Zimmer extended his hit streak to ten with a second-inning single off Gonzaga starter Tyler Olson, a career-high.
Freshman
Thomas Cox relieved Balog in the sixth, retiring all seven batters he faced, two on strikeouts. The Belmont, Calif. native has retired all 12 batters he's faced this year.
“We had trouble pitching and playing defense today,” said USF Head Coach
Nino Giarratano. “The first inning home run was a big boost for them, and we could not field two bunts in the fifth when they scored four runs. After they hit the second home run to go up 9-2 we were able to battle back but could not get the big hit with runners in scoring position. Overall, it was our worst mental and physical performance of the year. On the bright side,
Jason Mahood was very good today for us, offensively and defensively.”
The Dons close out the series tomorrow, with
Christian Cecilio getting his second start of the week. Cecilio took a no-hitter into the fifth at Oregon State Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
Inside the Numbers
Bradley Zimmer extended his hit streak to ten, a career-high.
Line of the Game
Jason Mahood – 3-for-5, two runs, RBI, two doubles.
